Eli samuel seed



E. S. REED.

HITOHING POST.

(No Model.)

No. 427,012. Patented Apr. 29, 1890.

ggw f NITED STATES PATENT ELI SAMUEL REED, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTI-IS TO THE INVISIBLE I-IITOHING POST COMPANY.

HlTCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,012, dated April 29, 1890. Application filed August 1, 1889- Serial No. 319,416. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ELI SAMUEL REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitohing-Posts; and I do hereby declare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art tothe ground or entirely embedded within the earth; and the invention consists, essentially, 1n the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described, and then more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved hitching-post, showing the form of its construction which is best adapted for location upon the surface of the ground. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective View showing that form of my improved hitching-post which is best adapted to be embedded in the earth with its upper side on a level with the surface of the ground. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the hitching-post as shown in Fig. 1, the cover being closed, the chain being inside of the hollow block, and the bail or handle being depressed. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional elevation to Fig. 3, and shows the cover removed, the chains partially removed and in actual operative service while holding a horse, and also the handle of the post elevated into position where it can be grasped by the hand for the purpose of changing the position of the post or may be used for any other purpose.

Like letters of reference designate corre sponding parts throughout all the different figures of the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practical effect I first provide a hollow block A of suitable size and shape and made of any convenient and serviceable material, and which constitutes the main part of my improved hitchingpost, and may in reality be termed the post.

It may be made out of cast-iron, if desired, and I find it convenient often to construct it by casting. It may, however, consist of artificial stone, concrete,'or clay. I am not limited to any special material. NVhile I think that cast-iron is perhaps preferable in many cases, yet other substances can be employed, if desired. Furthermore, I am restricted to no particular size or shape for this block. The hollow pyramidal form shown in the drawings is a convenient shape, both for the post which is designed to be located on the I surface and also that which is designed to be embedded in the earth.

B denotes the cover which is used for closing the opening in the upper end of the block. This cover is removable at pleasure.

In Fig. 1 the block or post A is shown provided on two of its bottom edges with horizontal flanges a a, having screw holes. A

wooden bottom 0 is placed beneath block A I and fastened thereto by means of the screws which pass through the screw-holes in the flanges a a.

In Fig. 2 is shown the embedded form of the device. I dispense with the flanges a a, and also with the wooden bottom 0. Instead of these parts, I provide the lower edge of the block A with a groove adapted to receive and contain wooden strips (1, a. A horizontal screen 0' of wire is secured by tacks or other means to these woodenstrips a, said wire screens serving to close the lower or bottom end of the hollow interior of the block.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the wooden bottom 0, with which the nonembedded form of the device is provided, has a central opening of suitable sizesay about four inches square-which is covered. with wire-cloth a, similar to the screen 0. The wirecloth O has the same function as the wire-cloth c. It is designed to uphold a mass of ashes or cinders D which are placed inside of the block A, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The Wooden bottom 0 assists in closing the lower end of the block and upholding the cinders; but this wooden bottom will only be used with that form of device which is employed aboveground, and, further, it will be seen that the wire 0 in the embedded post serves mainly to keep the ashes and cinders in place until the post has been properly sunk in the earth.

E denotes the chain which is used for hitching the horse or other animal. This chain may be of any suitable style and of proper length. I preferably employ what is known as the American halter-chain, as this seems to me the best kind of chain to use for the purpose. One end of this chain is provided with a ring F, which is situated inside of the block A. Said ring cannot be withdrawn through the upper opening of the block, it being purposely made too large to permit of such withdrawal.

In Fig. 4 it will be seen how the ring strikes against a flange around the upper opening in the block and is prevented from being withdrawn. It will be observed, therefore, that by means of this ring F the chain is loosely connected to the hitching-post. interior of the hitching-post is designed to contain the chain when not in use. (See Fig. 3.) The other end of the chain is provided with the common and usual fastener or clasp 6. Furthermore, this chain is connected to the cover D at a point near the fastener. I have preferably selected one of the links of the chain which is near to the fastener, (see, for instance, the second link from the fastener,) and I rivet the cover or cap-plate B to this link. This riveting is easily accomplished by making two holes in the cap'plate and using a staple-rivet which goes through the chain, thus enabling the chain to be loosely connected to the cover. \Vhen the cover B is closed, the fastener e and also the chain E, with the ring D, hang down freely within the block A. The idea involved in the use of ashes or cinders is to provide a material which The hollow will keep the chain and ring dry. This mass of ashes is commonly about four inches deep, and as the chain lies upon the cinders when the cover of the block is closed said cinders will take up any moisture which might otherwise injure the chain.

The non-embedded form of the device is provided with a handle or bail G, whereby the post can be removed from point to point. This handle also serves when two horses are to be hitched as a device to which a chain from the second horse may be attached, the first horse being held by the chain belonging to the hitching-post.

Many minor changes may doubtless be made in the structure, form, and relative arrangement of the parts of my improved hitchingpost without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I deem that my invention is broad enough to permit of these changes. In other words, I do not wish to confine myself exactly to the precise arrangement illustrated in the drawings and described herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a hitching-post, the combination of the hollow block or post having perforated flanges a (L and handle G, the cover for said block, the bottom 0, secured to the said flanges, said bot tom having an opening covered by the screen, the mass of ashes or cinders within'the block, and the chain having at one end a ring non removable from the block and at the other a fastener, said chain being connected to the cover near the fastener, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELI SAMUEL REED. lVitnesses:

W. R. RowLEs, J. F. VOIG-T. 

